Dismantling and Export of Surplus Brewery Processing Equipment from Ireland
Project Overview
A global beverage manufacturer operating on the east coast of Ireland identified a large quantity of redundant brewing and processing equipment across its facility. These assets were sold to multiple purchasers for reuse at locations both within Ireland and overseas. The project required the safe and coordinated dismantling, removal, and international shipment of the equipment within an active food and beverage production environment.
Indassol were appointed as an Approved Contractor and took responsibility for delivering the project as Principal and Lead Contractor, overseeing the full engineering, safety, and logistical management of the works.
Scope of Work
The programme involved establishing several controlled work zones across the operational site. Indassol managed the setup of temporary infrastructure, including hoarding and site cabins, ensuring that all activities were carried out under strict permit control within the boundaries of a live production facility.
Comprehensive project management and Health & Safety documentation were developed and implemented to support the dismantling and removal of a wide range of surplus process assets located in three separate brewery processing areas.
The equipment removed varied significantly in size and complexity. Smaller process components such as valves, motors, and pumps were dismantled alongside major plant items, including 36 large roof-mounted vessels with capacities ranging from 250 hectolitres to 2,080 hectolitres.
Because the project took place within a fully operational food and beverage environment, close coordination with the client’s production teams was essential. Careful planning and a methodical engineering approach ensured that dismantled equipment remained suitable for efficient transport and straightforward reinstallation at the buyers’ facilities.
Key Requirements and Deliverables
The project was required to meet several critical objectives:
- Deliver all works safely and professionally with zero Lost Time Incidents (LTI).
- Ensure ongoing site production activities were not disrupted logistically or environmentally.
- Manage public road usage and closures safely when lifting or transporting oversized equipment from the site.
- Prevent dust generation, chemical release, or drainage contamination that could affect the wider facility.
- Dismantle equipment using recognised engineering standards so that sections were suitable for road transport and future reassembly.
- Reinstate all work areas following asset removal, leaving them safe, clean, and ready for the client’s future use.
Project Methodology
From the outset, the project was organised to align with the requirements of the existing site operator while also accommodating the schedules of multiple equipment buyers.
Flexible programming of activities allowed Indassol to maintain operational continuity for the facility while ensuring timely delivery of equipment to the new owners for their own installation programmes.
A structured and systematic approach was applied during the planning and execution phases, including:
- Establishing robust Health & Safety management procedures from project mobilisation through to completion.
- Carefully sequencing dismantling activities to minimise disruption across the wider site.
- Applying proven engineering practices to ensure safe and efficient dismantling of equipment.
- Recording, identifying, and tagging all assets prior to intrusive work to maintain traceability and support reinstallation.
Project Duration
The entire project spanned approximately 12 months. This timeframe included detailed planning, project documentation, site preparation, Health & Safety procedures, asset identification and tagging, dismantling operations, equipment removal, and loading for onward transport.
The programme also incorporated final reinstatement works to return the affected areas to a clean, safe condition that met the site owner’s future operational requirements.
Project Outcomes
Over the course of the year-long programme, Indassol successfully dismantled and removed a substantial volume of brewery processing equipment while maintaining an exemplary safety record with no Lost Time Injuries.
Large internal vessels and difficult-to-access equipment were extracted by carefully creating new roof access points and manoeuvring components internally to designated crane lift positions.
Through careful coordination and adaptable scheduling, the project team ensured that both the asset owner’s removal programme and the buyers’ reinstallation timelines were achieved.
Despite the complexity of the work and the location within a busy brewery environment that also attracts significant tourist and public activity, disruption to ongoing operations and surrounding areas was kept to an absolute minimum during crane operations, road closures, and specialist transport movements.
